16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Shearer to attempt British solo shearing record in Powys
A 27-year-old Mid Wales shearer will attempt to beat a solo shearing record in Powys next month.
Huw Jones, from Abergynolwyn, near Tywyn, will attempt the eight-hour solo ewe British record.
Huw's record attempt will take place at Hendreseifion Farm, Llanwrin, near Machynlleth, on Saturday, July 5, beginning at 5am.
Live streaming will be available through the Huw Jones - 8 hours British Shearing Record Attempt Facebook page, where Huw explains that he will try to beat the solo record currently held by Martin Howlett.
In recent years, many shearing record attempts have been attempted, including Lloyd Rees in 2022, who broke the nine-hour British solo record at Blaenbwch Farm, near Builth Wells.
These feats have inspired Huw, who said: 'Seeing Matt Smith, Rowland Smith, Gareth Daniel and Ian Jones achieve their records planted a thought in my mind that I would like to do something like that one day, but realised I was years away from it.
'I finally achieved a long-term goal two years ago in New Zealand, shearing 554 lambs in eight hours.
'But I still wasn't satisfied. I wanted to do 600, so when I got home, I asked my brother if I could try and do a personal best on his sheep. He agreed and in July 2023, I shorn 704 ewes in nine hours.
'That was the big motivation to attempt a record. I set my goal for about two years and chose the record I wanted to attempt to break.'
For approximately six months of the year, Huw's normal shearing routine sees him split time between the UK and New Zealand.
The rest of the year he is on the family farm, along with some contract sheep dipping alongside his brother.
'Farming has always been my main passion,' said Huw.
'I would always be outside farming with my parents and when staying with my grandparents. Luckily for us, mum and dad have always included me and my brother in a lot of farming decisions from a young age (sometimes too young), but it helped us learn how important it is to consider all aspects before making a decision.'
Shearing normally starts for Huw at the end of April, in England, before coming back home to Wales to shear from the end of May.
Huw shears with his friend Gwydion and they've shorn together for several years on local farms. The aim is always to finish shearing at the Royal Welsh Show just outside Builth so he can enjoy the week.
An agricultural engineering graduate from Harper Adams University, Huw added: 'I have a few proud moments in shearing, and winning the Senior Championship in Corwen Shears was a personal highlight.
'There are many shearers and people outside of shearing who have inspired me in different ways, but for me, Rowland Smith has always been a big inspiration.
'Not only is he an outstanding shearer in shows, records and in the shed, but he also has an incredible work ethic.
'I could never manage lamb shearing until I watched 'Rowly' shear lambs in front of me; that is when I finally stopped making excuses of being too tall for lambs and found a way to get it done.'
Proceeds from the event will be shared between the Wales Air Ambulance and Aberdyfi Search and Rescue charities.
